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| With Alagar.He did a 3:31 FM |
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| TRYSquad at FCM2023. |
⭐ Race preparation: ⭐:
After my sub4 at the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon, I wanted to focus more on road races and hit some PBs before I return back to ultra distances.
With this thought, I downgraded my registration at the Paderu Ultribe 2022 from 50K to 25K. The plan was to continue training for speed while doing a short trail run to keep my hunger for trails satiated.
I did some short trail runs at closer places like the trails in the back side of Durgam Cheruvu. Fortunately, I had good company from Sridhar sir during this time. It was fun times and I enjoyed the causal runs a lot.
However, by November, I got news that son has an important event at school on the day of Paderu run.So I had to make the tough call to skip the run .With trail runs out of the game, I switched back to training for road races.
I changed my plan to attempt a really hard HM at the Stadium Run 2022 and then carry forward the fitness , first with a FM (B Race) at Chennai followed by an FM (A race) at New Delhi Marathon.
However, travels and a nasty flu in the start of December threw a spanner in my plans. By end December, I decided to take it easy and skip the event. Fortunately a good friend gave me some insight and convinced me to give it a shot .I am happy that I took that call.Really happy with how the run turned out for me ☺️
With this thought, I downgraded my registration at the Paderu Ultribe 2022 from 50K to 25K. The plan was to continue training for speed while doing a short trail run to keep my hunger for trails satiated.
I did some short trail runs at closer places like the trails in the back side of Durgam Cheruvu. Fortunately, I had good company from Sridhar sir during this time. It was fun times and I enjoyed the causal runs a lot.
However, by November, I got news that son has an important event at school on the day of Paderu run.So I had to make the tough call to skip the run .With trail runs out of the game, I switched back to training for road races.
I changed my plan to attempt a really hard HM at the Stadium Run 2022 and then carry forward the fitness , first with a FM (B Race) at Chennai followed by an FM (A race) at New Delhi Marathon.
However, travels and a nasty flu in the start of December threw a spanner in my plans. By end December, I decided to take it easy and skip the event. Fortunately a good friend gave me some insight and convinced me to give it a shot .I am happy that I took that call.Really happy with how the run turned out for me ☺️
⭐ Training runs ⭐:
It was a really short training block with many interruptions due to work/travel. Some of the memorable runs were my run with Alagar and SP in Chennai on the highways , my 2hours run on a Friday with all my friends cheering for me, my long run with couple of hard TEMPOs with buddy Chandu and ofcourse the 2022 Stadium run ! Had so many memorable moments for which I am very thankful !
⭐ Race execution ⭐:
Coach @runningyogicoach suggested that I go easy in the first half and push in the second half.
▪️Started the race with a conservative pace to see how the legs respond.By the 3rd km,I decided to stick to an average pace of 5:20-5:30 until the 16k.
▪️The flat route and the many photograph points kept my spirits high.For the first 7.5k,we passed through some of the iconic buildings and road stretches of Chennai.It was a bit humid but nothing unmanageable.
▪️Then we took a turn to enter OMR stretch.Wide roads and open space meant some good airflow.Besides, the entire stretch was flat and really enjoyed the run on this stretch.
▪️Soon we crossed the bigger roads to enter a small diversion, a loop of 6k.This section felt difficult with slight elevation all throughout.
▪️I lost my focus a bit around 26k and distracted myself with a short walk.
▪️Opened my new caffeine based gel. This had some effect(at least mentally) and I returned back to my target pace.
▪️We now entered the last 5km.I wanted to sustain a sub5 pace in this stretch . It was not easy with my mind constantly pulling me down.By the 30th km,I was finally able to reach the sub5 pace.
▪️I recalled how my run had degraded to a run -walk in this section back in 2019.Today I was able to sustain the pace.The happiness pushed through the last 3kms.Passed many runners and finally finished strong 💪 at a time of 2:47:50.
▪️An amazing run that I would have almost missed. Thanks to my friend @ranjanirama who made me take that leap of faith and join for the run today !!
▪️Started the race with a conservative pace to see how the legs respond.By the 3rd km,I decided to stick to an average pace of 5:20-5:30 until the 16k.
▪️The flat route and the many photograph points kept my spirits high.For the first 7.5k,we passed through some of the iconic buildings and road stretches of Chennai.It was a bit humid but nothing unmanageable.
▪️Then we took a turn to enter OMR stretch.Wide roads and open space meant some good airflow.Besides, the entire stretch was flat and really enjoyed the run on this stretch.
▪️Soon we crossed the bigger roads to enter a small diversion, a loop of 6k.This section felt difficult with slight elevation all throughout.
 |
| Approximately 26th km. Felling some signs of fatigue. |
▪️I lost my focus a bit around 26k and distracted myself with a short walk.
▪️Opened my new caffeine based gel. This had some effect(at least mentally) and I returned back to my target pace.
▪️We now entered the last 5km.I wanted to sustain a sub5 pace in this stretch . It was not easy with my mind constantly pulling me down.By the 30th km,I was finally able to reach the sub5 pace.
 |
| Entering the RedCarpet. The most satisfying feeling |
▪️I recalled how my run had degraded to a run -walk in this section back in 2019.Today I was able to sustain the pace.The happiness pushed through the last 3kms.Passed many runners and finally finished strong 💪 at a time of 2:47:50.
 |
| Happy !! |
▪️An amazing run that I would have almost missed. Thanks to my friend @ranjanirama who made me take that leap of faith and join for the run today !!
⭐Race nutrition: ⭐
▪️ Pre run : 2 🍌+ 🍞
▪️ On run : Fast&Up Gels at 5,10,15( zesty lemon) ,25,28(chocolate with caffeine)
▪️ Post run: Carb heavy breakfast.
▪️ On run : Fast&Up Gels at 5,10,15( zesty lemon) ,25,28(chocolate with caffeine)
▪️ Post run: Carb heavy breakfast.
⭐ Post Run celebrations ⭐
Weather in Chennai that day was perfect. The new end location was pretty spacious and loved the vibe there. Rajesh Vetcha was doing a HM and I had a good time talking and joking around with him :) Had chance to meet runners from Runners360, a training group in Bangalore . Friend Rama coaches the athelets there. Happy for Rama, who won the podium on the womens 20miler category . |
| With chief Rajesh Vetcha |
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| With my friend from college, coach Rama, who got her Podium at the event. |
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